Looking for guidance on assembling a powerful PC for gaming, work, and content creation.
Looking for guidance on assembling a powerful PC for gaming, work, and content creation.
Hello everyone, I’m working on assembling a new PC and facing some challenges in picking the right parts. My goal is to get a machine that performs well for both gaming and productivity tasks. For gaming, I need it to smoothly run the latest games (like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2) and heavily modified titles such as Skyrim, even at 1440p resolution. I want ultra settings or smooth performance on mid to high levels—no need for 4090 or 5090 power consumption.
On the productivity side, I’m mainly a web developer who occasionally runs demanding websites and tools. I also use software like Photoshop and plan to stream and edit videos, so the system must support these workflows effortlessly.
I’ve already settled on an ASUS ROG Hyperion GR701 case—it’s my top choice and I’m committed to this decision, regardless of cost. My monitor is a 34" Dell Alienware AW3423DWF. Now I need recommendations for the remaining components.
My current plan: CPU – Ryzen 9 7950X3D (the 9950X was on my list but I’m leaning toward X3D for better balance), Motherboard – X670E (not too expensive and versatile), GPU – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (also thinking about RTX 5070 Ti or future AMD options), RAM – 32GB DDR5-6000MHz (uncertain if enough for my needs), PSU – 1000W ASUS ROG, Power supply – matching case for stability, Storage – primary M.2 NVMe SSDs like Samsung 980 Pro or Crucial P5 Plus, secondary SATA drives and HDDs for file management. Cooling – ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 AIO cooler (for style and fit).
My total budget is capped at €5000, so I’m flexible with premium parts. If anyone has experience building a similar setup or has tips to improve this, I’d really appreciate your advice. Thanks ahead!
Also, note: I didn’t choose the RTX 4090 or 5090 GPUs because they’re too costly and use a lot of electricity. In my region—especially at home—the power bills are high, and handling them can be stressful. I’d rather spend a few minutes less rendering or see a slight drop in gaming FPS to avoid skyrocketing energy costs. This isn’t the only reason, but it’s definitely a priority for me.
Typically the 650/850 boards provide everything required plus extra value at a much lower cost. I’d choose just M.2 SSDs. Identical price, smoother operation and better performance. The X3D CPU appears to be a less favorable option versus alternatives. Edited February 5, 2025 by leclod
Based on my experience with modded games, they usually come with performance issues and lack the polished feel of standard titles. From what I’ve seen using Minecraft mods, others might disagree, but the 50 series isn’t ideal. If you’re looking for older cards, secondhand 40 series options might exist, though they’re likely to be expensive.
Budget allocates a fifth of funds to an expensive case cooler and PSU, which isn’t ideal for choosing a high-end GPU. Still, they’re definitely overpriced like those useless rog items. Try to limit wasteful spending and opt for a 4090 or dual 4070T/4080s if you’re aiming to earn. Once income starts flowing, electricity costs become irrelevant compared to the profit you’ll make. Also, undervolting can reduce power usage significantly, letting you lower the 4090’s wattage to 300–400W while preserving performance. After the cash comes in, you won’t mind spending on an overpriced cooling and power supply if it boosts your earnings.
It would be useful to know the exact country for local shopping. Just my mum would say that. Salary growth is really slow now, but the outlook looks okay.
I selected certain components for future flexibility, mainly focusing on GPU and CPU swaps. While the PSU could be excessive, I’m keeping it open to change. I tend to be firm about Nvidia because they don’t deserve the price on those GPUs. I’m hoping the AMD 9000 series will perform well beyond gaming. We’ll find out what they deliver.
I reside in eastern Slovakia and the costs here fluctuate a lot. Often you won’t even realize money is disappearing from your account because it’s so low, but right now it’s too costly and keeps changing. I just began my first job and plan to save some money after a year, so picking GPUs like 4090 or 5090 isn’t really an option just yet. Perhaps later. Some of these components feel too heavy compared to what others suggest here, but I’m aiming for something that lasts and works well with my case, which I won’t change. (Again stubborn—I like a stylish PC). I’ll keep an eye on AMD and their upcoming GPUs, maybe check out the 5070 Ti specs and then decide something that lasts until the 60-series or beyond. Right now, the main priority is finding a solid CPU for both gaming and daily tasks. I saw some tests on the 9950X that seem solid for productivity but not ideal for gaming, even though I don’t want to run at 4K in the highest settings. The 7950X is another choice, as is X3D, though the cache in X3D isn’t great for productivity. Or at least that’s what I noticed.
When it comes to modifying, it varies by game and mods. New releases often face challenges that affect performance over time. A 32GB might work for me, though it’s not ideal; I could upgrade later to 64GB. Graphics cards are becoming expensive and can take a toll on mental health. I don’t really like buying used, especially in my country. The 50-series didn’t meet my expectations, so I hope the 5070Ti or AMD 9000 series will be better. If not, the 4080 or 4080Super should suffice for now.
For RAM I believe a 64GB option makes sense since it represents only a small portion of your overall budget, and based on your needs, you could see benefits. Regarding performance, if you don’t require massive storage like a spinning drive stick to M.2, faster speeds than 2.5-inch drives and simpler installation are advantages. For your specific situation, what makes you lean toward this choice? I understand you have the freedom to decide—of course it’s your money and your computer. While I prioritize aesthetics in many builds, what stands out to you here is something different?